- is the expression of my logical, philosophical and spiritual understanding.

Mar 17, 2012

PHILOSOPHY OF HYPOCRISY

“Ostentation is the signal flag of hypocrisy”. When I look around the world including our personal or professional ones, people are able to project their image successfully in contrary to their true personalities. We preach one thing and practice another thing. One rule is meant for us and another for others. We say certain things we do not mean and do certain things we do not intend to do. At the top echelon of the professional world, mediocrity thrives on hypocrisy by way of appeasement and flattery. For example, the advent of hypocrisy is deeply rooted in our political systems which to some extent is plausible, as the true meaning of politics have changed over the period of time to ‘dealing with people in an opportunistic, manipulative or devious way’.

But what about the existence of hypocrisy in our daily lives including our personal, social, and professional lives? Is it necessary to be hypocritical for survival or it is one’s inherent nature to manipulate? Do we become hypocritical in order to gain advantages or to fool the system or the people? Can we survive in this manipulative world without becoming hypocritical? What are the advantages and disadvantages of becoming hypocritical? I have tried to weave my mind through this abstract topic in order to initiate a discussion and in turn expose ourselves with our day to day hypocritical behaviours and unnatural tendencies.

The question that may also be raised is does hypocrisy provide leverage in our lives and if so, then is it sustainable? I think hypocrisy may provide a stepping stone in making a wrongful entry or falsely projecting an image, and in the absence of credibility it may erode quicker. Any action—verbal or physical is not tenable for long if it is not based on solid moral foundation and this moral foundation is re-enforced by one’s knowledge, experience, merit, intelligence, hard work, truthfulness, greatness, honesty, integrity and gentleness. There can be several examples of non-sustainability of hypocrisy but the recent case of Bernie Madoff, a former US businessman, NASDAQ chairman and an investment adviser who duped people for billions of dollars by his Ponzi scheme, is still fresh in our memories. His case also demonstrates how so-called white collared intelligent and successful people at high places including banks and government organizations become susceptible to hypocrisy by getting lured towards the false facade created by these con men. This also proves that greed and hypocrisy are closely related terms.

At a micro level, it would be quite interesting to cite examples of hypocrisy prevalent in the society by identifying them under different categories. However, these categorizations cannot be generalized in the presence of exceptions.

1)Hypocrisy in Personal Life: In some families, a child grows by watching how his or her parents backbite other people, whereas they want their children not to talk foul about others. They do not want their children to smoke, drink or watch adult movies but they are allowed to do so in their full knowledge. They look for an opportunity to manipulate the system or the society but they want their children to be honest and truthful. In the process, they do not care about impressions they are creating on their tender minds. The hypocrisy is also visible in adult relationships and their thought processes. We want our partner or spouse to be chaste and faithful whereas we are allowed to be deceitful. We may not love our spouse but must make pretentions on Valentine’s Day. We may call them honey or darling twenty times in a day without meaning an iota of its essence and may go for a divorce the very next day.

2)Hypocrisy in Social Life: I remember how in smaller towns and villages, people used to pay respect to the elders because of their age and wisdom, to teachers because of their knowledge, and to the farmers or professionals because of their experience. It did not make a difference to us whether those people are rich or poor, well dressed or in tattered clothes, living in a mansion or in a hut and driving a car or riding a bicycle. We respected them because of their originality, simplicity, magnanimity and contributions to the society.

Now, our modern world is entirely different which is built on the basis of hypocrisy and pretentions. We run after things which shine although it may be contrary to the proverb that whatever shines is not gold. We go by the dress of a person, what kind of house the person has, what kind of car a person drives, how smart a person is in demonstrating his or her wealth or affluence, and how articulately a person presents his or her words. We are least bothered to know the reality of a person or reasons behind these facades. Whether the well dressed person driving an expensive car and living in a mansion is an illiterate or a criminal who has amassed wealth by foul means does not concern us. As already said we are laid to believe that whatever glitters is gold. This belief is the outcome of our hypocritical nature which has been enshrined by our modern education system or so-called modern society.

Another example of hypocrisy in social life can be that when we meet a person we go by the words of flattery. We like sycophancy so much that those words of praise about our education, position, beauty, success, wealth etc sounds music to our ears and we get ourselves elevated by deceit. In this process, our intelligence takes a backstage and our craving for falsehood takes over.

3)Hypocrisy in Professional Life: Being a former banker, a financial consultant and having some knowledge of macro economy, I strongly believe that the world’s economy is suffering not because of the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan or elsewhere but because of the greed of a few on the top and a hypocritical society who tends to lean towards the sycophants. It has become a modern corporate culture to promote the packaging more than the substance itself. People on key positions want to promote those who are willing to fall in line instead of those who have their own brain and have the ability to call a spade a spade.

Selection criteria’s are based on degrees and not actual knowledge or worldly experience. One may be highly experienced and capable of obtaining several degrees but cannot get the job because he or she does not meet the robotic parameters. Hiring managers look for the keywords in a resume more than the true capabilities. Merit overtakes the vagaries of the computers. Manipulations take over the quality. And once these robotic presentations are appointed, then in the race of achieving nonsensical targets for themselves and resulting bonuses for their bosses, they ignore certain parameters which in turn triggers these financial debacles.

4)Hypocrisy in Public Life: It would be audacious to dwell upon this topic in public life as the entire system is built on following suit. In the hierarchical system, people have no option but to follow authority. Therefore it is very important who is on top and how the system is functioning in the absence or presence of sycophants. If a system is marred with sycophants and corrupt officials then naturally hypocrisy would be the call of the game.

5)Hypocrisy in Religious or Spiritual life: Believing in God or praying to the almighty is a state of mind by which a devotee tries to connect with the supreme power. For this it is important that our mental horizon is filled with purity and able to provide an aesthetic environment for the almighty to get in. These purities and aesthetic environments are created by certain austerities and self admonishment which requires practice of high moral and ethical standards. Now, if the mind is filled with dirt’s of anger, ego, greed, hatred, jealousy, animosity, dishonesty or negative thoughts, how would one be able to invite God in their mental horizon by way of prayers? It is something like trying to build a place of worship on a heap of garbage. Therefore, prayers without penance are nothing but hypocrisy of par excellence where people not only try to fool themselves and the society but also God.

Therefore in order to develop a qualitative society, we must guard ourselves from the ills of hypocrisy. It may give short pleasure or success or may open the door of an opportunity but its resulting effects may cast a shadow on our society and professional world for a long time.

15 comments:

I have 45 years varied management of major projects required in the construction of what is now considered Silicon Valley of California. I agree with most of your comments. I am hypocrital enough that if I expose my thoughts on the subject there will be many who will think I am not with the mainstream and therefore unacceptable for the aggressive and demanding business climate, and what is now expected of senior level consultants in the business world.Those who have not read your comments in detail have missed an opportunity to understand fully your comments. Honesty and intergrity in our business consulting should be valued, but that is not a normal expectations. We say that it is, but what we expect is conformity and eletism in educational status rather than actual business hands on experience. What we need in the business world are consultants who have the mental agility and experience to grasp and soilve complex daily problems . However,our businesses are now expecting managers to have prerequisites of many advanced degrees without having a comparable amount of hand on experience.

Hypocrisy is the yeast of the pharisee. Counterfeit has attained such eminence that it is difficult to detect. In our professional world, hypocrites are severe with others and lenient with themselves. We will only live truly only when we realize that nothing lasts forever.

YES !HYPOCRISY PROVIDES LEVERAGE IN SOCIETY AND ESPECIALLY IN OUR PROFESSIONAL WORLD !!It requires to maintain the decorum & maintain business secrecy. The understanding of the business situation is defers from one cadre to another,hence this is inevitable.

I see Hypocrisy as a root many problem related to business world and world peace as a whole.Hypocrisy is the main problem that we all face today in this uncertain and dangerous times in our societies .

Today, we have professional Image Managers. Hypocrisy, therefore, works longer compared to a few years back. But in the long run, it does not work. How long is long run will vary, depending upon how soon the truth is revealed in today's information age.

I think that skilled hypocrisy practitioners can last quite long and even pass the skill to the following generation. Of course, some clever people are able to denounce them, but, for the time of their "tenure" they have a really strong influence and that may last for a very long time. Even in this faster information age. It all goes down to ambition and greed. Hypocrisy is a means, a tool, not an end in itself (however, I concede that those who get used to doing it can become addicted).

Projecting a great image might well give some leverage and enable the manager or consultant to get some initially good results. The trouble is that the staff . employees and their managers are collectively more knowledgeable that than any single consultant. They talk to each other, they are pretty quick at spotting your real feelings and capability. Once they have 'found you out' you will lose a lot of credibility; it doesn't take them long Few people can hide their personality or real experience for long, especially when under pressure.Worse still , it doesn't take long to get for that reputation as a shifty b---shitter to get to other organizations . It is also unethical. Don't go there.

I agree with John - why even go there. Ostentation demonstrates a lack of confidence. The other downside to being a hypocrite is that your whole life is a sham. What a pity.Isn't life a whole lot more fun when you hang out/work with people who are authentic? Play with winners!

Professional world sometimes term it as "Managing", beacuse "Hipocrisy" are immatured/unprofessional word here! In many cases organizational policies remain silent. not always but in many cases, unfortunate but true!

Whilst maintaining integrity and authenticity is tough, being hypocritical is much, much tougher. The corrosive effects of hypocrisy on oneself and on those around, whether in business, families or friendships, undermines relationships and trust long-term, often permanently. And I speak from painful personal experience. Let your 'yes' be yes, and your 'no' be no.

This is nothing compared to the career as politician, where they teach you to be a hypocrite and liar all the time; success criteria is to be able to hide it. One should strike the balance between being a hypocrite and business etiquette.

The whole thing is highlighted in the USA where the art of communicating and pretending has become a real science, whereby it is all geared towards winning. To be normal in the US is a suicide act. You have million books helping you in projecting an artificial image.

Being sincere does not imply telling everyone your life story and expecting to be loved. Being sincere and yourself is million times more beneficial to you and to the people, in the present and for next generations. Hypocrisy is worst than smoking and cancer. It is a plague for you and for society, though you might enjoy a few moments of triumph with it. Sincerity creates the healthy environment.

I guess by hypocrisy you mean saying one thing and believing or doing another. In our teaching of consultants, we tell them to speak the simple truth. The truth is not the tough bit; keeping it simple is tough!

SumanJi;First of all I would like to commend you for this excellent piece of writing on “Philosophy of Hypocrisy”. And you have very rightfully discussed various aspects of hypocrisy and its presence in various arenas of life namely professional, personal and social life and the truth of which could hardly be denied or ignored.

I would like to express my opinion by sharing a proverb by Jean Kerr, which says:“Man is the only animal that learns by being hypocritical. He pretends to be polite and then, eventually, becomes polite” whether this be considered a positive aspect of “hypocrisy” should be left to the people in general to judge.Personally , I think that being hypocrite does not add any glory to life nor does it serve any purpose in the long run.Hypocricy ,of course, is saying one thing and doing another .It may not be bold faced intentional lie , but the result is virtually the same.Hypocricy, may seem like a lark or an easy path without any stumbling block but various instances , news and stories have confirmed that it is a wrong path to take and one that leads to a slippery slope , where the line between the right and the wrong seems to be apparently blurred.It can be summarised as a ‘concealment of one’s real character’. Having said that it is very hard for me to be able to imagine a world full of honesty, a world without deceit, a world deprived of the so-called lies. It’s all wishful thinking once again. Everything that we see or hear is some form of “lie” and this is very much advocated in our practice of buying a product or a service.Hypocricy, existed since the evolution of mankind and today it’s a vice that our society cannot live without.

We are all hypocrites and do not know it.This world consists almost exclusively of people, who are one sort and who behave like another sort. We are all playing Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Hyde game and get used it so much that it ceases to be a game anymore. Perhaps we play that game unconsciouslyReligion particularly has been the happy hunting ground, where it germinates and then blooms. Outside the temple the following lines from Gita are inscribed in bold letters;“Whoever offers me with devotion, a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I accept, the pious offering of the pure in heart” …….but in reality that is not the practice. All attention is given to the big donor and the yonder woman, who cannot afford more than a penny, cannot find a place in the sun, though the light of sun shines on all alike, the rich & the poor.

I would like to conclude by saying that “Hypocrisy” as it has been said is a tribute that vice pays to virtue …….and as William Hazlitt quoted “The only vice that cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy. The repentance of a hypocrite is itself hypocrisy”RegardsShubhra Sen.

SumanJi;First of all I would like to commend you for this excellent piece of writing on “Philosophy of Hypocrisy”. And you have very rightfully discussed various aspects of hypocrisy and its presence in various arenas of life namely professional, personal and social life and the truth of which could hardly be denied or ignored.

I would like to express my opinion by sharing a proverb by Jean Kerr, which says:“Man is the only animal that learns by being hypocritical. He pretends to be polite and then, eventually, becomes polite” whether this be considered a positive aspect of “hypocrisy” should be left to the people in general to judge.

Personally , I think that being hypocrite does not add any glory to life nor does it serve any purpose in the long run.Hypocricy ,of course, is saying one thing and doing another .It may not be bold faced intentional lie , but the result is virtually the same.Hypocricy, may seem like a lark or an easy path without any stumbling block but various instances , news and stories have confirmed that it is a wrong path to take and one that leads to a slippery slope , where the line between the right and the wrong seems to be apparently blurred.It can be summarised as a ‘concealment of one’s real character’. Having said that it is very hard for me to be able to imagine a world full of honesty, a world without deceit, a world deprived of the so-called lies. It’s all wishful thinking once again. Everything that we see or hear is some form of “lie” and this is very much advocated in our practice of buying a product or a service.Hypocricy, existed since the evolution of mankind and today it’s a vice that our society cannot live without.

We are all hypocrites and do not know it.This world consists almost exclusively of people, who are one sort and who behave like another sort. We are all playing Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Hyde game and get used it so much that it ceases to be a game anymore. Perhaps we play that game unconsciously.

Religion particularly has been the happy hunting ground, where it germinates and then blooms. Outside the temple the following lines from Gita are inscribed in bold letters;“Whoever offers me with devotion, a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I accept, the pious offering of the pure in heart” …….but in reality that is not the practice. All attention is given to the big donor and the yonder woman, who cannot afford more than a penny, cannot find a place in the sun, though the light of sun shines on all alike, the rich & the poor.

I would like to conclude by saying that “Hypocrisy” as it has been said is a tribute that vice pays to virtue …….and as William Hazlitt quoted “The only vice that cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy. The repentance of a hypocrite is itself hypocrisy”RegardsShubhra Sen.

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About Me

I am a former banker, financial consultant, and an attorney before the High Court of Mumbai and Supreme Court of India. I have also managed several companies as their CEO and as a management consultant in India, the Russian Federation, USA and Canada. I am also a Certified Management Consultant and a member of CMC-Canada, having interest in writing articles on philosophy, trade & economy and project management.